The Battle Of Sicily
Allied: U.K, U.S, France, Canada
Axis: Italy, Germany
Allied casualties: 22,000
German casualties: 10,000
Italian casualties: 132,000
SC180476.jpg
Codnamed Operation Husky, it was a large scaled amphibious and airbourne assualt that ended after 6 weeks of land combat.
It ended in stratigic allied victory that opened up the way to Italy.
File:Map operation husky landing.jpg
Strategy: The original plan contemplated a strong advance by the British north along the east coast to Messina with the Americans in a supporting role along their left flank
10th - Invasion of Sicily, Operation 'Husky' (see map above) The Americans still wanted to concentrate on the cross-Channel invasion of France, but at the Casablanca Conference somewhat reluctantly agreed to go ahead with the Sicily landings. Amongst the benefits would be the opening of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping. The final plan was approved in mid-May and not much more than a month later the first US troop convoys were heading across the Atlantic for an operation even greater than the French North African landings the previous November. Allied Commander-in-Chief - US Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force - Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham
Landing Areas:
Gulf of Gela, S coast
South of Syracuse, SE coast
Forces landing:
US 7th Army - Gen Patton
66,000 troops
Eighth Army - Gen Montgomery
115,000 British & Canadian troops
Departure from:
United States, Algeria, Tunisia
Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Malta; Canadian division from Britain
Naval Task Forces:
Commanders:
Western
Rear-Adm H K Hewitt USN
Eastern
Adm Sir B Ramsey
Naval Forces
Battleships
Carriers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Submarines
Other warship
Troopships, supply ships, LSIs etc
Landing Ships and Craft (major)
The Battle Of Sicily
Allied: U.K, U.S, France, Canada
Axis: Italy, Germany
Allied casualties: 22,000
German casualties: 10,000
Italian casualties: 132,000
Codnamed Operation Husky, it was a large scaled amphibious and airbourne assualt that ended after 6 weeks of land combat.
It ended in stratigic allied victory that opened up the way to Italy.
Strategy: The original plan contemplated a strong advance by the British north along the east coast to Messina with the Americans in a supporting role along their left flank
(see map above)
The Americans still wanted to concentrate on the cross-Channel invasion of France, but at the Casablanca Conference somewhat reluctantly agreed to go ahead with the Sicily landings. Amongst the benefits would be the opening of the Mediterranean to Allied shipping. The final plan was approved in mid-May and not much more than a month later the first US troop convoys were heading across the Atlantic for an operation even greater than the French North African landings the previous November.
Allied Commander-in-Chief - US Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower
Allied Naval Commander Expeditionary Force - Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham
66,000 troops
115,000 British & Canadian troops
Commanders:
Rear-Adm H K Hewitt USN
Adm Sir B Ramsey
Battleships
Carriers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Submarines
Other warship
Troopships, supply ships, LSIs etc
Landing Ships and Craft (major)
-
-
5
48
-
98
94
190
6
2
10
80
26
250
237
319